Review

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

[K-Variety Show Review] Abnormal Summit

Dear Korean TV staff, did you
ever experience a shortage of ideas? Or did you ever think of creating
something uncreative? Seriously, how can you always manage to come up with such
brilliant ideas for a show or drama? It made me want to be born as a Korean TV
staff even more in my next life. Someone once wrote that in order to stay
creative you have to surround yourself with creative people. Maybe...just maybe…if
I’m hanging out with Korean TV staff, I can get a hint of their creativity.

Anyway, I’m going to talk about
another Korean amazing variety show. Where have I been? Why did I just know
about this fun and enlightening show now? But better late than never, right?

Abnormal Summit is a South Korean
television program on JTBC which first aired on July 7, 2014. The show features
a panel of non-Korean men, living in South Korea, who debate on various topics
and “Korean culture, through the eyes of a foreigner,” in a talk show format,
in the Korean language.

The show is hosted by Jun
Hyun-mooas the “Chairman”, Yoo Se-yoon
as the “Secretary General”, and Sung Si-kyung as the “Chairman”, with guest
appearances by South Korean celebrities, as guest “representatives”, who
announce the weekly topics. The show’s format of a summit, refers to the
foreign cast, eleven at time the show first aired, as “Representatives” from
their individual countries, who make up an International panel.

The hosts will explore some of
the “accepted truths” in their country by inviting a group of young people to
their Abnormal Summit. In a parody of the political G12 summits, these ex-pat
representatives, well immersed in the host country’s culture and language,
offer fascinating observations from their home nations. The representatives are
joined by a celebrity guest and amongst the group they talk about matters
ranging from culture and education to hobbies and their personal reasons for
moving from the place where they were born. After some hilarious and frank
disputes, the representatives get to vote on whether they think the traditions
and viewpoints of the country are normal or abnormal!

I never knew that a group of man
who talk about certain topic can be a fun thing to watch! What I like from the
show is that it is interesting even from a female viewer’s perspective.
Usually, when men are talking about something, as a woman, I often feel bored
or lost, but this show is nothing like that! I can relate to what they’re
talking about and some time I often taking side.

The show is also enlightening.
The show has broadened my knowledge about each country’s culture and how each
country’s representatives address one topic, which often sparks a debate due to
the difference in opinion. What’s interesting is that the debate will be solved
by a clear solution at the end of the show, which is something really valuable,
I think.

Another reason why I love the
show is because it is packed with humor. Some topics are really sensitive, but
thanks to the competent MCs and the easy-going casts, such topic can be
discussed more lightly and pleasantly. Though, sometimes several casts often
involved in heated debates. Fortunately, the production team has prepared a
“Hand in Hand” song for such condition, in which every time a fiery debate
happened and the MCs seemed to be overwhelmed with such circumstance, the
production team will play the song and the casts and the MCs must standing and
holding each others’ hand while singing the song.

The show is not only offering an
entertainment for your soul only, but also for your eyes. It’s because some of
the casts are really attractive and eye-catching. Like Robin, for example. I
think he’s the most handsome representative in the show. He looks like a mix of
European guy and Japanese man.

Though Robin successfully treated
my eyes with his striking appearance, my favorite cast is not him. It’s the
smart and polite Tyler. I’m so happy that he stay and not going anywhere. Even
though he seems dorky and less-masculine compared to the other representatives,
Tyler is probably the one that always can cool off an intense situation. His
smart brain and broad knowledge are his strength in the show. Oh, and he’s a
student of Seoul University!

CONCLUSION:

To sum it up, Abnormal Summit is
another Korean Variety Show you should not missed because aside from being able
to get a daily dose of laughter, this show will also make you learn about the
beauty of diversities.